A19563:768
An answerAn aunsvvere
An answer by the Reverend Father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and metropolitan, unto a crafty and sophistical cavillation, devised by Stephen Gardiner Doctor of Law, late Bishop of Winchester against the true and godly doctrine of the most holy sacrament, of the body and blood of our saviour Jesus Christ Wherein is also, as occasion serveth, answered such places of the book of Doct. Richard Smith, as may seem any thing worthy the answering. Here is also the true copy of the book written, and in open court delivered, by D. Stephen Gardiner ...An aunsvvere by the Reuerend Father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, primate of all England and metropolitane, vnto a craftie and sophisticall cauillation, deuised by Stephen Gardiner Doctour of Law, late Byshop of Winchester agaynst the true and godly doctrine of the most holy sacrament, of the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ Wherein is also, as occasion serueth, aunswered such places of the booke of Doct. Richard Smith, as may seeme any thyng worthy the aunsweryng. Here is also the true copy of the booke written, and in open court deliuered, by D. Stephen Gardiner ...
London: printed by John Daye, 1580London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1580
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And S. Augustine saith not as you do, that Christs words be figurative to the unfaithful, for they be figurative rather to the faithful then to the unfaithful. For the unfaithful take them for no figure or mystery at all, but rather carnally, as the Capernaites did. And there is in deed no mystery nor figure in eating with the mouth (as you say Christs flesh is eaten) but in eating with the soul & spirit is the figure & mystery. For the eating, and drinking with the mouth is all one to the faithful and unfaithful, to the carnal and spiritual, & both understand in like, what is eating and drinking with the mouth. And therefore in no place do the doctors declare, that there is a figure or mystery in eating & drinking of Christs body with our mouths, or that there is any truth in that mystery, but they say clean contrary, that he is not eaten and drunken with our mouths. And if in any place any old author write, that there is a figure or mystery in eating and drinking of Christ with our mouths, show the place if you will have any credit. S. Augustine specially (whom you do here allege for your purpose) saith directly against you, Nolite par are fauces sed cor, Prepare not your mouth or jaws, but your hart.1 And in an other place he sayth, Quid paras ventrem & dentem? Creed & manducasti, 2Why dost thou prepare thy belly and teeth? Believe, and thou hast eaten.
And S. Augustine sayth not as you do, that Christes words be figuratiue to the vnfaythfull, for they be figuratiue rather to the faythfull then to the vnfaythfull. For the vnfaythfull take them for no figure or mistery at all, but rather carnally, as the Caparnaites did. And there is in deede no mistery nor figure in eatyng with the mouth (as you say Christes flesh is eaten) but in eating with the soule & spirite is the figure & mistery. For the eating, and drinking with the mouth is all one to the faythful and vnfaythfull, to the carnall and spirituall, & both vnderstand in like, what is eating and drinking with the mouth. And therfore in no place do the doctors declare, that there is a figure or mistery in eating & drinkyng of Christes body with our mouthes, or that there is any truth in that mistery, but they say cleane contrary, that he is not eaten and drunken with our mouthes. And if in any place any old author write, that there is a figure or mistery in eating and drinking of Christ with our mouthes, shew the place if you will haue any credite. S. Augustine specially (whom you do here alleadge for your purpose) sayth directly agaynst you, Nolite par are fauces sed cor, Prepare not your mouth or iawes, but your hart.